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YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Washington https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:19:29 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Laurie on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2023685 Wed, 01 May 2019 18:23:35 +0000 Laurie 2023685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hi there, DC area resident here. Have some ideas. First - what everyone else said about the weather- hot and humid. Drink a ton of water. Note that many museums now require reservations/tickets, even if they are free - Holocaust Museum does for sure. I echo the suggestion that was made to do the Capital Tour, where you will also need reserved tickets. If you just want to watch the excellent film and have a short guided tour of the main areas, you don't need your Congressperson, but if you would like a more extensive tour, absolutely contact them. It is never too soon to make all of these reservations online, as soon as you have your dates. The Supreme Court is close to the Capital and you can have a look at the main chambers. It's kind of awe-inspiring. Personally, I would skip Air & Space. It's a madhouse, and has become really commercialized. With so much else to do and see, unless you have young children, it would be low on my list. They've moved a lot of the exhibits out to the A&S extension museum near Dulles Airport, also. I was also really disappointed by the Museum of American History last year. I hadn't been for many years, and took a 14 year old visitor there. He was bored, and spent $10 to do some ride near the cafeteria which was his highlight. It was a total hodge podge of stuff, and a big area was being renovated so some of the most iconic things, like the ruby slippers and Michael Jackson's glove were not accessible. It's more fun for adults because there are things that make us nostalgic. When you go to Ford's Theater, go across the street to the house where Lincoln died (need reservation!) It is part of the National Park Service. The little museum in the basement of Ford's is interesting. The FDR memorial is sometimes missed because it's not on the Mall. It's very rich in detail. Great to grab a park ranger to talk about it all.  The Viet Nam Memorial is a must-see. It moves me every time, especially the mementos left there. Make sure to see the Nurses' Memorial, very close by.  Korean Memorial is also really haunting.  All are near the Lincoln Monument. These will all be beautiful at night. Arlington National Cemetery is important, and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown is worth seeing. I am not sure if you can still tour Robert E Lee's mansion which is at the top of the cemetery. I liked it several years ago because it was not all restored perfectly (they were asking for donations for restoration) and gave a good sense of the original time.  ANC requires a good bit of walking, and is hilly though, so perhaps this is better for a spring or fall visit. The Newseum has always been my one of my kids' favorite places, from age 12 on. It's not a Smithsonian Museum, so there is an entry fee, but it is a fantastic collection and a great place to cool off after lots of walking. And what is more timely than the NEWS these days? Close to the Newseum is the Navy Memorial and there is a small museum on the plaza dedicated to Navy and Coast Guard that is easily missed. DH and DS might like it - it's a quick visit. The Spy Museum is fun. Haven't been there in a long time. It's close to Ford's. Finally, I took the 14 year old on a Saturday morning bike tour of the major monuments. It was more fun and less stressful than I expected, and biking is cooler than walking. PM if you are interested and I'll dig up the company I used. It's a good thing to do on your first day to give you the lay of the land. I was the only local  in the group. DC is awesome, so glad you are coming, even if it has to be postponed for now.  Zibbets on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2022389 Thu, 25 Apr 2019 21:58:08 +0000 Zibbets 2022389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We stayed at the Omni Shoreham when we visited DC in 2017 and loved it. Because of our long list of museums and things we wanted to see, we didn't bother with the pool until the last day and regretted it. Gorgeous! The location was great for catching the metro and walking to some cute restaurants. We used Uber some of the time too.  Our off the beaten path favorite was The Phillips Collection art museum. Don't miss the Holocaust museum.  August is hot and humid in DC but not as much as our home city. Museums and metro are all air conditioned. Aquamarine on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2022317 Thu, 25 Apr 2019 15:11:23 +0000 Aquamarine 2022317@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We went in August years ago when the kids were young. It was brutally hot but we were prepared. We stayed at an Embassy Suites hotel in a location that was quite easy to walk everywhere (can’t remember exact location). On the plus side, the crowds were quite thin probably because it wasn’t optimal weather but we enjoyed it immensely. Anonymous on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2022131 Thu, 25 Apr 2019 00:21:31 +0000 Anonymous 2022131@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Definitely recommend Trader Joes And visiting in October or May when the weather is nicest! Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021792 Wed, 24 Apr 2019 06:13:41 +0000 Jane 2021792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Neelie, thank you, this is really helpful. It sounds like you travel like us. We are quite happy cooking / assembling food ourselves on holidays as well as eating out. Neelie on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021729 Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:27:05 +0000 Neelie 2021729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ A few years ago we stayed at Avenue Suites,  2500 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.   Well located 3 blocks from a Metro station, across the street from Trader Joe's, couple of blocks from a Whole Foods. This was important as we don't like eating all our meals in restaurants when we travel. We had  a suite with a King bed and another room for DD who was with us and a kitchenette.  Would definitely recommend it.  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.avenuesuitesgeorgetown.com/">https://www.avenuesuitesgeorgetown.com/</a> Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021671 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 20:31:40 +0000 Jane 2021671@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Goodness, thank you Fashintern! That sounds great. It will be DH first Triathlon and so I better not scare him too much yet! Gretchen, how super to have a congressional intern as a tour guide. We would love that! And you must have been BEAMING when your DS took you around.  Gretchen on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021639 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 17:47:30 +0000 Gretchen 2021639@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Adding in for future:  I read about this on another bloggers site (can't remember who!). the company takes over new apartments and makes them into hotel space while the apartment is renting out. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://whyhotel.com/">https://whyhotel.com/</a> And... making a plug for taking the capitol tour. Request through a congressional rep, and get the full tour with a congressional intern. DS had that job 2 years ago, and we had a great time with our tour guide!  Stagiaire Fash on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021546 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:26:34 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2021546@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ One more thing for your itinerary at some future date <a href="https://www.active.com/washington-dc/triathlon" rel="nofollow">https://www.active.com/washington-dc/triathlon</a> Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021502 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 06:30:37 +0000 Jane 2021502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I’m sobbing now! The dates don’t work and so we aren’t coming to any Washington, DC or Seattle, for now! One day hopefully! DH is doing a triathlon and DS has various commitments, including learning to drive, so on hold for the mo. I have an itinerary though when we do make it. These are really super suggestions and I’m looking forward to them all! Thank you all very much. Anonymous on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021333 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:20:30 +0000 Anonymous 2021333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You can come to us Angie Angie on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021285 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 14:04:59 +0000 Angie 2021285@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And there I thought you were coming to Seattle..... *SOBBING* Toban on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021242 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:11:13 +0000 Toban 2021242@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ In late August we sometimes get a break from the humidity, though it is still hot. Lots of great advice above. If you have wheels and like the outdoors, there’s lots of wonderful nature sites nearby. My favorite is Great Falls Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, Monocacy Aquaduct. If you like civil war history, Harper’s Ferry and Gettysburg are phenomenal. RobinF on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021240 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:06:17 +0000 RobinF 2021240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Agree about the heat! Hot and muggy with super cold AC in the museums. We have relatives in Baltimore and have been to DC several times when visiting them, such a fun city with tons to see. The HOHO bus is a fun and easy way to get around to the different sites. Arlington Cemetery is an awe inspiring place to visit. Stagiaire Fash on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021219 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 08:44:03 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2021219@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just thought of a later-in-the-day thing that you might enjoy: free concerts at the Kennedy Center for the Arts, daily. They are good, short shows—no intermission. You can wear what you want and if you’re too worn out after touristing all day, you can skip it without losing anything. Obviously not the “Kennedy Center Presents” glitzy events on tv, but might be nicer than another evening hanging around the hotel after the museums close, and lower-cal than a restaurant. Afterwards you can go up on the roof, have a drink, and look at the city across the river. <a href="http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/upcoming" rel="nofollow">http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/upcoming</a> Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021129 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:05:45 +0000 Jane 2021129@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Absolutely super suggestions, thank you so much. It is so good to have access to such good and wise first hand advice.  The Willard Hotel looks superb! And the suggestions of Crystal City look really good too. Thank you Janet and Fashintern. The suggestions on the museums sound very good, Barbara Dianne, especially the Ford Theatre event. JAileen, I know that DS and DH will find the Civil War sites fascinating. Danusia, thank you for sharing your plans, the National Air and Space Museum looks super and the National Spy Museum will be a hit too.  I wasn't quite expecting the heat and humidity - thank you for the clothing suggestions RunCarla. It may be that I need a hot and humid capsule wardrobe. Suntiger, top tip on the topper!  Anonymous on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021126 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 18:10:50 +0000 Anonymous 2021126@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We are planning a trip to DC in the fall and decided that we are staying in Virginia and will take the Metro to DC. That way we will see Arlington Cemetery. Lots of museums to choose from,  but we narrowed down our picks to National Air and Space Museum, Museum of Natural History, the National Zoo. We plan on going to the National Mall at night when it is all lit up and see the various memorials and monuments at that time. If we have time the last place we want to go is the National Spy Museum. Carla on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021124 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:57:58 +0000 Carla 2021124@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Stayed with family, so no hotel recommendations. July was HOT! Pack things that breath and float away from the body like linen, cotton, seersucker - and don't expect to get more than one wear from an outfit before it needs to be washed. Barbara Diane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021113 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 16:43:01 +0000 Barbara Diane 2021113@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Don’t know if your guys are up for this but I loved seeing the inaugural ball dresses and the presidential portrait gallery. The Ford Theater had an actor recalling the night President Lincoln was shot. We found it fascinating. We did not plan on going but arrived somewhere else before it opened, were right there, and had time “to kill”. We took the subway in from the surrounding area. That worked fine. We went for an event so we were there late January/early February. No lines anywhere :) Enjoy! Stagiaire Fash on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021105 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 15:34:18 +0000 Stagiaire Fash 2021105@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Aw, that’s where my son was born! (Fairfax) General recommendations—Crystal City is less expensive and still close in if you don’t mind taking the metro. (It’s near the Pentagon). Arlington is also great—not too far away and also worth exploring itself. Two suite hotel chains (forgive me if London has these chains—idk). Spring Hill suites and Residence Inn. Neither will knock your socks off in the least, but both chains have solid reputations. It’s not a military museum, but I hear Monticello has vastly improved its presentation of Sally Heming’s life and the lives of slaves on the plantation. It also features Jefferson’s inventiveness, so is interesting from an engineer-ish perspective. Have a fun trip! JAileen on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021096 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:50:05 +0000 JAileen 2021096@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Yes, my suggestion was to go another time, too! I don’t have any suggestions for hotels, since we always stayed with relatives in the DC area. But the museums are incredible. Also in the area are Civil War sites which are interesting. Janet on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021095 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:47:20 +0000 Janet 2021095@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Not sure how it suits your budget, but the Willard Hotel is lovely and walking distance to lots of sights (I’ve only stayed in a DC hotel once, the night before I was running a half marathon, because I live 45 min away). Janet on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021094 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:44:20 +0000 Janet 2021094@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ August is usually when I like to escape the area! I’m not a fan of heat and humidity. Expect AC in buildings, and feeling like you walked into a steam bath when you emerge. It does not generally cool off much at night, so don’t worry about covering up much once the sun goes down. Because we are not in the Deep South, a lot of people underestimate the heat & humidity here. A meetup would be wonderful! Anonymous on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021080 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 12:48:53 +0000 Anonymous 2021080@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ That's June-September, May and October, and June-September at night, are comfy (to me) 80s and humid. Haven't been in a long time, but the museums are probably cold-the arctic AC sort, so need a topper for that. There's generally no rain, but when there is it's storms-so windproof skirts are recommended. Short flowy skirts will "Marilyn" :p Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021079 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 12:37:17 +0000 Jane 2021079@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ DC. Oh! Meet up would be fun! But wow, that is hot, hot, hot, hadn't quite expected that! Anonymous on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021072 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 12:07:20 +0000 Anonymous 2021072@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Washington state or DC? If DC, Hot high 90s and humid like 90%, and come meetup with us East Coasters Jane on "Washington" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/washington#post-2021067 Sun, 21 Apr 2019 11:47:19 +0000 Jane 2021067@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We are thinking of a five / six day trip to Washington in August and I wondered if you might be able to offer any tips and suggestions. I would ideally like to stay in a 'suite' or at least a separated room for DH and I, and then an area for DS. So, any hotel or motel or B&B suggestions would be gratefully received. Then I am thinking that in 5 days we would get to see a lot of the larger sites and museums. DH and DS like military history. I wondered how hot it might be?  All thoughts and ideas would be most welcome.